A LOCAL fundamentalist Christian group has written to residents to reassure them about its plans to convert a house in Seale into a school for 60 pupils.

The Three Counties Educational Trust, a group of local Brethren, which has applied for planning to convert the house, Diani, in Thundery Hill, into a nine-classroom school, has written to neighbours in response to concerns raised by a conservation group, the Seale, Sands and Runfold Amenity Society.

Responding to the society's concerns, one of the Brethren, Simon Rich, wrote in his letter that pupils will be transported to the school in three 17-seater buses, which should not clog up local roads.

Addressing worries about noise, Mr Rich said pupils will only have 50 minutes recreation time per day, and pointed out that there will be no evening, weekend or holiday activity.

The school would have a security system, but no outside light, and while the school would use water, Mr Rich estimated that with no swimming pool, showers, baths or washing machines, it would use less water than the average house.

Mr Rich, in his letter, explained that a nine-acre paddock at the house will remain and not feature in the redevelopment.

Pupils' games and recreation will take place on unspecified public playing fields. Mr Rich was unavailable to expand on this before The Herald went to press.

Background notes sent with Mr Rich's response explained that Brethren have rejected computers, radio, television, videos and films because of "violence and corruption" that "leads to the breakdown of marriage and family life".

The notes went on: "In recent times the advent of scientific, technological and electronic developments, together with rapidly deteriorating public moral standards, has meant our viewpoint, beliefs and lifestyle stand in increasing contrast to the world in general.

"These schools are set up by parents concerned to protect their children from the moral decline in society."

The Three Counties Education Trust has been running a school at a converted house in south Farnham since September.

It was converted and opened without planning consent and retrospective planning permission was refused. That refusal is the subject of a pending appeal.

Meanwhile, the school, in Frensham Road, continues to operate.